Mom365 Community

OMG Temper Tantrums!!!

My girl just turned 2, 10 days ago and so did her temper!!! She throws terrible fits IN PUBLIC and at home!!! We are doing time out and trying so hard to work with her, but it's embarrassing!! Especially because I used to be one of those people that hated to hear a child screaming, crying, or whining in public! That's probably why my kid is doing it!! So I can't spank her in public and when in time out the screaming is worse, what are some suggestions?? I'm tired of having to get my meals to go and to not be able to finish my shopping or anything else!!! HELP PLEASE!

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bethany Ann, Star Mom on February 22, 2011 at 11:26pm

Ohhh how fun, best time of your life right? LOL

With Landon...if he threw a fit in public I would do one of a few things, depending on the reason for the tantrum and his specific mood. I'd either hold him close and whisper in his ear that he needed to calm down and listen to me and that everything was ok, or get down on his level, hold him by the arms so he couldn't throw himself around and say if he didn't behave he wasn't going to get dessert/toy/we'd leave and go home and have time out. Or I would find a bathroom and if he didn't calm down by talking to him then I'd spank him and shoosh his screams (putting a finger to my lips, saying Ah AH everytime he made a noise). If all that failed then depending on where we were I would take him out to the car and snap him in his seat, then just sit in the front seat and let him scream it out and every so often tell him when he was done we could go back inside.

At home, time out! we have a corner in our living and he's "trained" now that we just tell him to go to the corner, and he'll cry and scream the whole way over there. Sometimes we physically put him there, and he has to face the corner, no turning around, for 3 minutes (the standard for time out is their age plus 1).

Ignore the screams, DO NOT RESPOND AT ALL. She gets a reaction out of you and that's exactly why she does it. If she tries to get out of the corner and doesn't listen to you, sit down and hold her (facing the wall). Be more stubborn than she is, and be consistent.

This is just my own style, if you like any of the suggestions I hope they work for you! Luckily it is just a phase, but it can turn into something more permanent if she doesn't learn that her tantrums aren't a healthy way to express her anger.

Oh that's another thing. Make sure it really is a tantrum and there isn't a legitimate reason for her screaming. 2 is when they are really seeking their independence. Like if she's eating and starts screaming, ask her if she wants something else to eat, etc.